- How many trusts have significant shareholdings and how many have fans reps on the board?

That depends on how you define significant. A 2% shareholding can be the crucial casting vote in some cases. However, there are over 50 clubs where supporters have a shareholding that makes them significant. At Leyton Orient for example, they have 3000 shares - whilst dwarfed by many other shareholders at the club, they are the largest shareholder outside the Boardroom, which is something to be going on with and means that they have arguments ready to deploy in their favour. As for Board representation, it depends on what criteria. There are places where the Chairman has invited the Chairman of the Supporters Club onto the Board - but they aren't elected onto it to represent fans as such, for example at Northampton or Lincoln. It could be seen as splitting hairs, since after all, a fan is a fan and it's better than nothing, there are nearly 40 Clubs were there is someone on the board who is there either due to their connection with fans or because of the level of investment they have in the club.

It is growing, and as more happens, the more common it will be for visiting Directors to meet a Director at another club who is a fan's rep rather than a local businessman. It's noticeable that even at places where fans own the club, you still get people criticising on message boards and muttering on the terraces. The crucial point though is that you can get rid of them at the next elections - with a normal owner, you're stuck with them until they decide to sell-up.